Albert l



'(No Model.)

A, L. PLATT.

- BooK` HOLDER.

No. 550,289. Patented Nov. 26,' 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. PLATT, OF CLINTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK O. DAVIDSON,GEORGE E. OXVEN, AND JAMES H. CONKLIN, OF SAME PLAOE.

BOCK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,289, dated November26, 1895.

Application filed April 6, 1895. Serial No. 544,743. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. PLATT, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Clinton, in the county of De Witt and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference 'beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and in which- 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved book-holder, with a book open and in position for reading. Fig.2 is a perspective view of the holder, With the book removed. Fig. 3 isa side view of the holder, showing the manner of fastening it(adjustably and removably) to the desk. Fig. 4 is a plan of the holderand its pivoted leaf-retainers or springclamps. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsectional view through the middle of the holder block or bearing proper;and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same on line .fr ac,showing more clearly the concave recess for the back of the book.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention relates to book-holding attachments to desks, chairs,invalids7 couches, &c. of that type which admit of the easy andinstantaneous adjustment of the book to the most desirable position forreading; and it consists in the improved construction and combination ofparts of a book-holder of that class, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

On the accompanying drawings, the referonce-letter A designates the topof a schooldesk, (or any other kind of a desk,) into which is inserted abushing a to receive the nutted tenon b of a curved metal arm B, sothat. this may be moved in its socket or bushing a into any desiredposition. The free end of arm B is enlarged and flattened to form aplate c, through the center of Which is insert-ed a nutted screw C, towhich is pivotally attached the bail D, through one of the ears cl ofwhich works the thumb-screw E. Be-

tween the ears d d of this .pivoted and adjustable bail D is hung thebook-support proper or bearing-block, Which consists of the triangularbase F and flat part F', having curved side recesses f f. At the pointwhere the top of the base F merges into the flat part FI is a shoulderor offset g, and that part of the flat piece F' above the concave siderecesses f f has a central convex recess or depression i' in its facewith raised sides or edges fi i. Upon the top of -the raised part of theflat bottom piece or base F are fastened one or more leaf-springs G.While one may, in some cases, be sufficient, I prefer to use two-one oneach side' as represented on the drawings, overlappingwith their freeends the side recesses f f, their points being turned slightly in anupward direction. At the same points, and preferably upon one of thesame screws j, by which the spring-fingers G are fastened upon block F,are pivoted the two curved leaf-retainers H H-one on each side-Which areof the shape clearly shown-. e., comprising the flat piece or base h,arch h', and curved finger 712, reaching (when the pivotedleaf-retainers are in alignment with the stationary spring-fingers G G)to about the ends of and covering the latter.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the manner of using this device, as well as the advantages involved inits use, will readily be understood. The book`(shown at I) is opened andplaced with its convex back in the recess i', so that the back will besupported by the flat piece F, With the lower edge of the back andcovers impinging upon the shoulder of offset g, which prevents it fromslipping down. It is held firmly and securely in this position by meansof the stationary spring-fingers G G, which overlap the book-covers onthe inside, the object of the side recesses ff being to afford room forthe fingers during the opera- ,tion of inserting the free ends ofsprings G between the covers and the adjacent leaves parallel to thesides of the covers. After Opening the book at the page where it isdesired to read the leaf-retainers H H are turned from the horizontalposition shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 4 into the Vertical positionshown IOO in full line in the same figure, so as to overlap the leaves,as represented in Fig. 1, and retain them in their proper position.

XVhile this device or attachment may be applied advantageously to desksof diferent kinds, as Well as to chairs, pulpts, dac. it will be foundparticularly useful on school-desks for children7s and students7 use.The schooldesks in ordinary use are necessarily of limited size, givinginsu fficient desk-room to the pupil. The top of the desk beinghorizontal, or nearly so, the book When lying flat upon ,it is at animproper angle with the line of vision. In using a book for referencewhile the pupil writes upon slate or paper the slate or paper is oftencrowded to an improper position upon the desk, so that the pupil oftenfinds it necessary to hold open the book With one hand While he writeswith the other. fith the book lying flat upon the desk the light strikesthe page at an improper angle. By this device the pupil securesadditional desk-room, the holder being placed above the desk, so thatthe hand may move freely beneath it. The book is placed at'such an angleand such a height that the page is ata propcr angle With the line ofvision and the pupil is compelled to sit in a proper position whilereading. The book is held secnrely open, leaving both hands of the pupilfree for use in Writing. The book is not Worn or soiled by frequenthandling, and the pupil finds it much more convenient and comfortable torefer to the page held above his paper than when lying flat beside it.The holder will hold a school book or paper of any size from a spellerto a geography. It rests the body, it rests the eyes, and it rests thebrain.

Having thus fully described my nvention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- The improved removable and ad justable book-holder or support herein shown and described, comprisingthe block orbearing F F', having longitudinal recess or depression l',concave side-recessesjf, and transverse shoulder g,and provided with oneormore station ary spring-fingers G and pivoted, arched, leaf-retainersI-I, arranged as shown; in combination With the adjustable bail D,thumb-screw E, and bent arm B; constructed a'nd combined to operatesubstantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT L. PLATT. lVtnesses LoUIs N. RICHEY, L. DE Boron.

